DAY Fifteen - Wildlife and Curved Bridge

Arriving in Hinton, AB last night, treated myself to a nice warm meal at a family sit-down restaurant. Was up several times in the middle of the night vomiting....diarrhea. NOTE: Quit being nice to self.

After not getting much sleep, got a late start today. Riding out about 8:30

Rode from Hinton to Grande Prairie, then to Dawson Creek for the start of the ALCAN Highway. Was warned by an oilfield worker that the road construction between Dawson Creek and Taylor was really jamming up things, so I decided to make Taylor for the night.

Riding from Hinton to Grande Prairie, the wildlife count is:

one cow elk

one whitetail deer

six mule deer

five grizzly bears.

First, mama bear came out

Then, her two cubs joined her.

This is the first grizzly bear(s) I have seen in three motorcycle trips to Alaska. A real treat. I had expected to see a lot of black bears coming out of hibernation, but none so far.

An hour later, spotted two young grizzlies on the side of a hill. But for some reason the photos did not come out. These are the only wildlife photos,... Oops, sorry forgot one, Da'mit met her first Big Beaver today.

 

Made the "required "stop at the Mile One marker for the Alaska Highway in Dawson Creek.

While there, met a young couple from Chile who had driven their Toyota mini-van up from Santiago, Chile. Are on their way to Alaska. Had a lot of questions about the Haul Road, the gas situation north of Fairbanks, the tundra, and was it worth the drive up. They have not seen a bear yet. Were disappointed when I told them they would not see a polar bear south of the Brooks Mountains in Alaska. Even then they might not see one if they did go to Prudhoe Bay.

Ever since the Alaska Highway was built in the 1940's, there has been constant improvements, changes and rerouting. Some of the abandoned original sections are still there and can be driven by passenger vehicles. One famous section is.....

The famous CURVED all wood decking and structure bridge. An engineering marvel. Beside being slick in the winter, it cannot withstand the weight of modern big trucks. Have always wanted to take the detour and see this bridge, so this time I did.

 

 

 

If you don't get off the "new" highway, you will never see this marvel.

Coming into Taylor is the longest all steel decked bridge on the Alaska Highway. Whether on two wheels or three, it is a squirrelly feeling as the machines moves sideways underneath you all the way across. Best technique is "Loosey Goosey". and "Keep your eyes on the horizon". Loosen your grip on the handlebars and let the motorcycle find its way across. The last thing you want to do is hang on with a death grip and fight the bike's movements.

Am safely retired in a small mom&pop motel with wifi. Tomorrow am going to try to find that roadside restaurant with the lightest bread I have ever eaten. At least that is the memory I still have of it from three years ago.

Nite all

 

 

 

Posted with Blogsy